There were no surprises when three National Football League head coaches were axed on what has become known as Black Monday, following the league’s regular-season finale.
Marc Trestman (Chicago Bears), Rex Ryan (New York Jets) and Mike Smith (Atlanta Falcons) were fired after suffering dismal losing seasons, and all three departures had been widely expected.
Trestman lasted only two seasons in Chicago and his position had become increasingly tenuous as the 5-11 Bears toiled to their worst season in a decade amid reports of ineffectual leadership.
Photo: AFP
One of Trestman’s underlings, offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer, acknowledged this month being the source of a media report claiming the team had “buyer’s remorse” over the signing of quarterback Jay Cutler to a new seven-year US$126 million deal.
Kromer was ditched along with general manager Phil Emery, who lasted three seasons and eventually paid the price for a series of questionable decisions, most notably the lucrative contract extension for Cutler.
However, one Bears player believes things can be turned around quickly in Chicago.
Photo: AFP
“We got all the weapons, we got all the tools,” cornerback Tim Jennings told reporters.
Ryan’s departure from the Jets was also just about inevitable after a 4-12 season. Ryan, who was dumped along with general manager John Idzik, had been in charge for six years, but the team failed to make the playoffs for the past four seasons.
“We’re in the win business, and we’re not winning, so I thought this was something I had to do,” Jets owner Woody Johnson said.
Photo: AFP
Ryan made a good start to his reign by reaching two successive AFC Championship games, but the Jets were beaten on both occasions.
With a lack of stability in the quarterback position, the Jets failed to post a winning record in the past four seasons.
Idzik was general manager for two years, but received criticism for his draft choices.
Jets quarterback Geno Smith said he was “hurt” by Ryan’s departure, but said he understands that the NFL is a business.
“We understand these things happen,” Smith said. “You’ve got to continue to buy in ... whoever the coach is and continue to develop as players. I think we’ll be fine as long as we do the right things.”
Smith’s axing in Atlanta came just a day after the Falcons missed a chance to win the weak NFC South when they were humiliated 34-3 by the Carolina Panthers to finish the season 6-10.
He was 66-46 in seven seasons in Atlanta. No Falcons coach has won more games and he took the team to the NFC Championship game just two seasons ago, but they have struggled since, going 10-22.
Smith came under increasing criticism from fans this season and reports surfaced that owner Arthur Blank had hired a search firm to assist in the hunt for a new coach.
“This is a business about winning football games and that is how you are judged,” Smith said on Sunday before he was dumped.
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College basketballer Kaitlyn Chen (陳凱玲) has become the first player of Taiwanese descent to be drafted by a WNBA team, after being selected by the Golden State Valkyries in the third and final round of the league's draft yesterday. Chen, a point guard who played her first three seasons in college for Princeton University, transferred to the University of Connecticut (UConn) for her final season, which culminated in a national championship on April 6. While at Princeton, Chen was named the Ivy League tournament's most outstanding player three times from 2022 to last year. Prior to the draft, ESPN described Chen as a
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